[nicktyler]

Hi Guys

After reading about the issues with valves on our 335i's (and I suspect other cars) and realising that my car is at 50k which is apparently too much judging by the state fo some of the pictures I have decided to get them cleaned.

I have approached a garage in south Essex (J30 M25) about the cost and time of doing this the manual solvent way (hope about 4-5 hrs).

There might be some potential for a group buy if any of you guys are interested. Apparently it makes a big dirrerence to higher mileage cars.

Nick

[335iLondon]

I could be tempted, if the price is a considerable saving on Bird's quoted cost then I may consider.

[AlanYoro35i]

Same here. Price is very important and if the garage know their stuff?

[nicktyler]

Birds is £466.36+VAT and I was hoping to get it in cheaper than that. Do Birds use the walnut blaster or do it manually? It seems pretty expensive if it is the manual way as it should only take about 4hrs + the cleaning solution.

[nicktyler]

This is the Garage http://www.prestigevehiclerepairs.com/ I have been there for everything since I bought my car and they do seem to know what they are talking about and get good reviews.

[AlanYoro35i]

won't hurt try asking for a price man!

[nicktyler]

I should have a price by tomorrow morning. I will let you guys know.

[khurmit]

I was thinking of going to Birds for this as they're near me. Interested to hear the price, then I'll weigh up pro's & cons.

Is solvent cleaning as effective as walnut blasting? Which is better?

[Guvernator]

What is this valve cleaning you speak of?

[khurmit]

Originally Posted by Guvernator

What is this valve cleaning you speak of?

This explains it very well!

I am in no way affiliated with Birds......

[nicktyler]

From the before and after pics I have seen it looks like walnut blasting gets much better results but I'm not sure anybody does it in the UK. Also the more time you spend on the solvents method the better the result but the more the cost obviously.

[old grey steve]

There's been a fair bit of dialogue re this where I work, apart form the aforementioned option the other thing we've looked at was/is the 'Terraclean' system that's been getting some decent reviews/feedback of late.

This is or appears to be from the 2Wheeler Dealer TV programmes I've seen, info I've read and the various YouTube videos I've seen to be a more straightforward alternative to cleansing the engine internals.

Have a look and see http://www.terraclean.co.uk/

[Sparky68]

Good thread here about it

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/foru...=266518&page=1

[seanblee]

It reads like Terraclean hooks up to the fuel system, so that won't help with this particular problem on a direct injection engine (given the whole cause of the problem is that the fuel goes straight into the cylinder so doesn't wash the back of the valves).

[nicktyler]

^^^ +1

[Mitch.]

Originally Posted by seanblee

It reads like Terraclean hooks up to the fuel system, so that won't help with this particular problem on a direct injection engine (given the whole cause of the problem is that the fuel goes straight into the cylinder so doesn't wash the back of the valves).

Terraclean also have a system as well as the one featured on Wheeler Dealers specifically for cleaning inlet valves on direct injection engines. http://www.terraclean.net/product.php?id=2

I do not know if it is widely available in the UK yet. Might be worth a try, it will certainly be cheaper.

[khurmit]

I have emailed Terraclean to see if they could point us towards any UK based customers that could provide this service for us.

If they can't help, I'll follow up with a query re purchasing the system.

[Sparky68]

There is one in Milton Keynes, not sure which method they use though.

[Sparky68]

http://www.monster-sport-europe.com/...erraclean.html

[khurmit]

Originally Posted by Sparky68

http://www.monster-sport-europe.com/...erraclean.html

Thanks I've emailed for a quote - will report back.

[Guvernator]

Aha so this is the modern equivalent of de-coking an engine (for us oldies )

Funny how things seem to come full circle. I'd heard this being an issue on Audi's but first I've heard of it on BMW's. Are all direct injection engines similarly affected then? Since everyone seems to be using direct injection these days, you'd have thought at least one manufacturer would have picked up on this pretty serious flaw in their longevity testing??

[nicktyler]

Originally Posted by Mitch.

Terraclean also have a system as well as the one featured on Wheeler Dealers specifically for cleaning inlet valves on direct injection engines. http://www.terraclean.net/product.php?id=2

I do not know if it is widely available in the UK yet. Might be worth a try, it will certainly be cheaper.

This looks like it could be the way forward. Let us know when you hear anything. Surprising more garages arent getting in on this yet.